Position : Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor
Tobin Montessori School

Tobin Montessori School Community:
The Tobin Montessori school is a tight knit community of learners, devoted to integrating the best practices of Montessori philosophy and public education. In 2015, Tobin achieved accreditation by the American Montessori Society (AMS), making us the first AMS-accredited public school in the United States! Our teachers hold Massachusetts licenses as well as Montessori Certification.

The Montessori method is based upon Dr. Maria Montessori's observation of children's ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, and their tireless interest in manipulating materials. Her belief was that children possess the intrinsic motivation and ability to teach themselves.

Students at Tobin are engaged in a rich Montessori curriculum that is fully aligned to the Common Core standards. Our highly collaborative school provides an environment where diversity is respected and celebrated. Children not only learn how to be independent learners, but they also gain the skills necessary for working collaboratively inside our classrooms and beyond the walls of our school.

­ The Role:
The Tobin Montessori School seeks to hire a social worker to join our diverse, committed, and passionate community. The Social Worker plays an important role in supporting the positive academic, social, and emotional development of our students. The Social Worker will support teachers in developing Tier 1 structures, routines, and rituals that support each child's ability to successfully participate in classroom activities, while also working directly with students who require additional Tier 2 & 3 support. Reporting directly to the Principal, the Social Worker will serve as a member of the Student Support Team and will collaborate closely with the Assistant Principal, the School Adjustment Counselor, the Student Support Specialist, our Family Liaison, the Social Emotional Support Paraprofessionals, and the district Lead Teacher for SEL.

Key Responsibilities:
While the exact day-to-day duties of the Social Worker will be determined by the needs of students, key responsibilities will likely include some combination of the following:

• Meet and collaborate regularly with teachers and other staff around instructional practices that support students' social/emotional development in JK-5 classrooms;
• Provide over-the-shoulder coaching and professional development to enhance teacher capacity in implementing routines, structures, and curricula that support positive SEL;
• Provide direct services to individuals and groups, including (but not limited to), counseling/therapy, social support groups, SEL skills-development sessions, and de-escalation support and crisis response, when needed;
• Maintain positive communication with parents/caregivers and collaborate with School Counselor and School Psychologist to manage family contacts and assist families in accessing community services and outside referrals;
• Attend meetings designed to support students' social, emotional and academic needs;
• Participate in a multi-tiered system of support by administering screeners and assessments, recording and tracking student behavior, attendance, and engagement data, analyzing data trends and patterns, working collaboratively to determine effective interventions, and progress monitor the effectiveness of such interventions;
• Participate in district elementary social worker network meetings and engage in additional school, district, and/or outside professional development opportunities;
• Participate in documentation and mandatory reporting, as needed, including risk assessments to ensure safety (suicidality, threats, etc.) and the filing of 51As;
• Development and implementation of goal-focused treatment plans based on assessment;
• Ensure equity for all students and families and value diversity of the school environment and community;
• Provide and/or coordinate clinical services that enable students and families to identify and change behaviors that interfere with students' academic, emotional and social performance;
• Helps to monitor attendance issues for students and support remediation of those issues;
• Engages in ongoing professional development and remains current in research;
• Serve as the school's 504 coordinator, collaborating with the district's Lead Teacher for 504 Plans to determine eligibility, gathering relevant data and documentation, facilitating meetings, and monitoring implementation of 504 plans for eligible students; and
• Conduct risk assessments, assess behavior, including interpretation of testing, knowledge of diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Your Skill Set:
As the incoming Social Worker you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred from an accredited college or university in social work, clinical psychology, counseling, guidance, or other related field;
• Hold current Massachusetts School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor licensure and LCSW or LICSW School Social Worker (Required);
• At least three years successful experience in social work within an urban, multicultural educational setting and demonstrated ability to work in a positive and affirming way with elementary-aged children from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others in a fast-paced environment;
• Understanding of/experience with special education law, policies, and practices;
• Flexibility, a growth mindset, and willingness to learn new skills;
• Able to articulate an asset-based view of parents and caregivers;
• A commitment to social justice and a willingness to collaborate with other members of the school community to understand and address the effects of implicit racial bias;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, alongside the ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a diverse staff and student body;
• Strong understanding of techniques of consultation, referral, collaboration, crisis intervention and working with interdisciplinary teams. Trained (or willing to be trained) in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI);
• Strong working knowledge of behavioral principles;
• Knowledge of theories of psychopathology and of individual, group, family dynamics, and interventions;
• Knowledge of federal and state laws related to schools, services to students, child abuse, and custody alongside an understanding of the implications of liability and requirements of due process;
• Understanding of clinical and therapeutic intervention models, such as cognitive behavior therapy, collaborative problem solving, social thinking preferred;
• Experience in program administration; and
• Ability to speak another language is a plus.

How to Join Our Team:
Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position as well as stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.